Men's Tennis

UW-La Crosse’s Horstmann Named Men’s Tennis Max Sparger Scholar Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Brady Horstmann has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Tennis Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Horstmann, a senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Cedar Rapids Xavier), is double-majoring in biochemistry and biomedical science and maintains a 3.79 grade point average. He is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree (2023 and 2024) and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar Athlete (2024 and 2025). Horstmann has landed on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll three times and been recognized on UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List numerous semesters. He received the Dean’s Distinguished Followship in 2025 and an Undergraduate Research & Creativity Grant in 2025 and 2026.
 
A three-year team captain, Horstmann is a three-time member of the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. He posted a 13-8 record in singles action this year and a 6-1 mark in doubles competition. In his four-year career, Horstmann was 49-40 in singles and 40-28 in doubles.
 
Horstmann is a member of the WIAC Student-Athlete Committee and UW-La Crosse’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving on the Executive Committee the last two years. He is on the Student Senate and has participated in the Vanguard Organization providing campus tours. Horstmann is a Certified Pharmacy Technician and Immunizer. He participated in the Wisconsin Science Education and Research Consortium in 2026.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Ethan Leeser (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Rochester Lourdes) was also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award.
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71 and was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.
 
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